Recommendations based on Shroud for a Nightingaleby P.D. James

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. Cover Her Face

    by P.D. James
    Detective investigates the murder of a young woman in an English country house.

    The story opens with a dinner party hosted by Mrs. Eleanor Maxie at Martingale, a medieval manor house in the (fictional) Essex village of Chadfleet. Mrs. Maxie's son and daughter, Stephen Maxie and ... (Wikipedia)

  2. The Black Tower

    by P.D. James
    Commander Adam Dalgliesh investigates a murder at a psychiatric clinic, uncovering dark secrets and personal demons.

    Commander Dalgliesh is recuperating from a life-threatening illness when he receives a call for advice from an elderly friend who works as a chaplain in a home for the disabled on the Dorset coast. ... (Goodreads)

  3. Death in Holy Orders

    by P.D. James
    A detective investigates a suspicious death at a remote theological college.

    Dalgliesh visits Saint Anselm's in a semi-official capacity to follow up the death of a student some time previously as the student's father was not satisfied with the verdict. Whilst there, a ... (Wikipedia)

  4. Well-Schooled in Murder

    by Elizabeth George
    Detective Lynley investigates a murder at an exclusive boarding school.

    Teacher John Corntel asks his former Eton schoolmate Lynley for help when the 13 year old schoolboy Matthew Whateley has disappeared. Initially Lynley refuses, until Deborah St James finds the naked ... (Wikipedia)

  5. Unnatural Death

    by Dorothy L. Sayers
    A crime mystery involving the suspicious death of an elderly woman.

    The wealthy Agatha Dawson is dead–a trifle sooner than expected--but there are no apparent signs of foul play. Lord Peter Wimsey, however, senses that something is amiss and refuses to let the case ... (Goodreads)

  6. Whose Body?

    by Dorothy L. Sayers
    A murder mystery, as an aristocrat's body is found in the bathtub of an architect.

    Thipps, an architect, finds a dead body wearing nothing but a pair of pince-nez in the bath of his London flat. Lord Peter Wimsey—a nobleman who has recently developed an interest in criminal ... (Wikipedia)

  7. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

    by Alexander McCall Smith
    An empowering story of female friendship, courage, and detective work in Botswana.

    Precious Ramotswe has only just set up shop as Botswana's No.1 (and only) lady detective when she is hired to track down a missing husband, uncover a con man, and follow a wayward daughter. However, ... (Goodreads)

  8. The Mysterious Affair at Styles

    by Agatha Christie
    A classic murder mystery, uncovering the truth behind a suspicious death.

    On the morning of 18 July, the household at Styles Court wakes to the discovery that Emily Inglethorp, the elderly owner, has died. She had been poisoned with strychnine . Arthur Hastings, a soldier ... (Wikipedia)

  9. From Doon With Death

    by Ruth Rendell
    A detective investigates the murder of a young woman, uncovering secrets and lies in a small English village.

    Dazzling psychological suspense. Razor-sharp dialogue. Plots that catch and hold like a noose. These are the hallmarks of crime legend Ruth Rendell. From Doon with Death , now in a striking new ... (Goodreads)

  10. Murder at the Vicarage

    by Agatha Christie
    A seemingly peaceful English village is shaken when its vicar is murdered.

    The novel is narrated by Rev. Leonard Clement, the vicar of St. Mary Mead, who lives with his much younger wife Griselda and their nephew Dennis. Colonel Lucius Protheroe, Clement's churchwarden , is ... (Wikipedia)

  11. The Old Fox Deceiv'd

    by Martha Grimes
    A murder mystery set in a quaint English village, where Inspector Jury must solve the case before the killer strikes again.

    It is a chilly and foggy Twelfth Night, wild with North Sea wind, when a bizarre murder disturbs the outward piece of Rackmoor, a tiny Yorkshire fishing village with a past that proves a tangled maze ... (Goodreads)

  12. For the Sake of Elena

    by Elizabeth George
    A young woman is found murdered in a Cambridge college, and Inspector Lynley must navigate the complex web of relationships to find the killer.

    Elena Weaver was a surprise to anyone meeting her for the first time. In her clingy dresses and dangling earrings she exuded a sexuality at odds with the innocence projected by the unicorn posters on ... (Goodreads)

  13. The Body in the Library

    by Agatha Christie
    A mysterious body found in a tranquil country library, investigated by a detective couple.

    The maid at Gossington Hall wakes Mrs Bantry by saying, “There is a body in the library!” Dolly Bantry then wakes her husband, Colonel Arthur Bantry to go downstairs. He finds the dead body of a ... (Wikipedia)

  14. A Man Lay Dead

    by Ngaio Marsh
    A classic murder mystery set in an English country house, where a game of "Murder" turns into a real-life crime scene.

    At Sir Hubert Handesley's country house party, five guests have gathered for the uproarious parlor game of "Murder." Yet no one is laughing when the lights come up on an actual corpse, the ... (Goodreads)

  15. Let It Bleed

    by Ian Rankin
    Detective John Rebus investigates a murder case that leads him to the seedy underbelly of Edinburgh's music scene.

    Detective Inspector John Rebus and Frank Lauderdale start the book with a car chase across Edinburgh to apprehend kidnappers, culminating with the two youths they are chasing throwing themselves off ... (Wikipedia)

  16. Lord Peter Views the Body

    by Dorothy L. Sayers
    A collection of short stories featuring Lord Peter Wimsey solving various murder mysteries with his wit and intelligence.

    In this delightful collection of Wimsey exploits, Dorothy L. Sayers reveals a gruesome, grotesque but absolutely bewitching side rarely shown in Lord Peter's full-length adventures. Lord Peter views ... (Goodreads)

  17. Strip Jack

    by Ian Rankin
    Detective John Rebus investigates a political scandal with deadly consequences.

    A police raid on an Edinburgh brothel captures (seemingly by accident) popular young local MP Gregor Jack. When Jack's fiery wife Elizabeth disappears, and two bodies are found, suspicion falls on a ... (Wikipedia)

  18. Tea Time for the Traditionally Built

    by Alexander McCall Smith
    A humorous detective novel set in Botswana, exploring themes of community and justice.

    The latest installment of this universally beloved and best-selling series finds Precious Ramotswe in personal need of her own formidable detection talents . . . . Mma Ramotswe's ever-ready tiny ... (Goodreads)

  19. Fingersmith

    by Sarah Waters
    A thrilling tale of two women who conspire to swindle a wealthy gentleman.

    Sue Trinder, an orphan raised in "a Fagin -like den of thieves" by her adoptive mother, Mrs Sucksby, is sent to help Richard "Gentleman" Rivers seduce a wealthy heiress. Posing as a maid, Sue is to ... (Wikipedia)

  20. The Maltese Falcon

    by Dashiell Hammett
    Detective Sam Spade must solve a mysterious case involving a precious artifact and a deadly trio of criminals.

    ‘Sam’ Spade is a private detective in San Francisco , in partnership with Miles Archer. The beautiful "Miss Wonderley" hires them to follow Floyd Thursby, who has run off with her sister. Archer ... (Wikipedia)

  21. Eye of the Needle

    by Ken Follett
    A thrilling tale of espionage and wartime romance, set in the chaos of WWII.

    In 1940, Henry Faber, a German spy nicknamed 'die Nadel' ('The Needle') due to his trademark weapon being a stiletto , is working at a London railway depot, collecting information on troop movements. ... (Wikipedia)

  22. The Third Man

    by Graham Greene
    A British writer's adventure to post-war Vienna, uncovering the truth behind a mysterious death.

    The American Western writer Holly Martins arrives in post– Second World War Vienna (which has been divided between the Allies : the Americans , British , French , and Soviets ) seeking his childhood ... (Wikipedia)

  23. The Sea

    by John Banville
    A man reflects on his past and reconciles his memories of youth with the present.

    The story is told by Max Morden, a self-aware, retired art historian attempting to reconcile himself to the deaths of those he loved as a child and as an adult. The novel is written as a reflective ... (Wikipedia)

  24. Bedknob and Broomstick

    by Mary Norton
    Three children embark on magical adventures with a bedknob that transports them and a witch-in-training on a broomstick.

    In The Magic Bedknob , Carey, Charles and Paul 6 find prim Miss Price injured by falling off her broomstick. For their silence, she bespells a bedknob to carry them where-ever and when-ever. In ... (Goodreads)

  25. What a Carve Up!

    by Jonathan Coe
    A satirical novel that explores the lives of the Winshaw family, a wealthy and corrupt British clan. Darkly humorous and politically charged.

    Godfrey, son of the wealthy Matthew and Frances Winshaw of Yorkshire, is shot down by German anti-aircraft fire during a secret wartime mission over Berlin, on 30 November 1942. His sister Tabitha ... (Wikipedia)

  26. Still Life

    by Louise Penny
    A murder investigation leads to the discovery of secrets surrounding a small Canadian town.

    Winner of the New Blood Dagger, Arthur Ellis, Barry, Anthony, and Dilys awards., Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a ... (Barnes & Noble)

  27. The Big Sleep

    by Raymond Chandler
    Private eye investigates a complex case involving a wealthy family and blackmail.

    Private investigator Philip Marlowe is called to the home of the wealthy and elderly General Sternwood, in the month of October. He wants Marlowe to deal with an attempt by a bookseller named Arthur ... (Wikipedia)

  28. Catering to Nobody

    by Diane Mott Davidson
    A caterer becomes a sleuth after a client dies from her food. A cozy mystery with recipes included.

    MEET THE CATERER WHO WHIPPED UP THE MULTIMILLION-COPY MYSTERY SERIES– AS GOLDY SOLVES HER FIRST MURDER! Diane Mott Davidson’s winning recipe of first-class suspense and five-star fare has won her and ... (Goodreads)

  29. A is for Alibi

    by Sue Grafton
    Private investigator unravels the case of a murdered woman, uncovering a web of lies and deceit.

    Kinsey Millhone , 32, private detective investigates the death of prominent divorce lawyer Laurence Fife. His murder eight years earlier was blamed on his wife, Nikki Fife. Upon being released from ... (Wikipedia)

  30. Playing for the Ashes

    by Elizabeth George
    A cricketer is murdered, and Inspector Lynley must navigate the complex web of relationships and secrets in the world of cricket to solve the case.

    "The story begins with my father, actually, and the fact that I'm the one who's answerable for his death. It was not my first crime, as you will see, but it is the one my mother couldn't forgive." In ... (Goodreads)